Mother's Day is approaching soon and we wanted to show our appreciation to mother's everywhere by offering some workout tips to help you stay in shape. Being a mom and trying to stay in shape can be really taxing sometimes. Whether you're a stay-at-home mom or a working mom, finding time to get a workout in is the hardest part about trying to stay fit. So what do you do? How do you find the time? We've compiled some tips on how to stay in shape and not drive yourself insane trying to do the busiest job in the world, being a mom.
Find Time
This is the most obvious tip, but it's the most important. Take a look at your day to day schedule and try to find the times that will work best for you. If you're a stay-at-home mom with newborns or toddlers, the best time you can block out are times like nap time. For working moms finding time before work is your best option. It means having to get up earlier (usually before the kiddos) but it's worth it to get up early to go for a run or hit the gym.
It's also important to create a family calendar to coordinate activities/errands with yourself and your spouse or significant other. If you're a single mom, this doesn't exclude you, having a family activities/errands calendar is also important for keeping track of your busy life. The most important aspect of having family calendar is to block off time to communicate with other members of the family to say, "This is my time, don't you dare take it away from me!"
No Time? Use the Kids!
That may sound a bit off putting when your hear it, but think about it, kids love activity. Involving them in your workout can be fun for both you and them, and it's great bonding time. Whether it's running around the house or park, incorporating the jungle gym, or literally using your kids as resistance tools; kids are a great workout accessory. As your kids get older you can even include them in your own gym routines or exercises and teach them the value of working out and living a healthy lifestyle. One of our own Foxy Fit Influencers Teresa McCoy put together a short video of how she works out with her kids.
Use Your Kid's Schedules to Your Advantage
Everyone is busier these days, including your kids. Between soccer practice, swim practice, music lessons, and all those other activities; kids have a lot on their plates. Which is great for you! Although it's great to attend your kids big soccer matches, music recitals, or other big life events; you don't need to go to every practice or lesson. Use this time to fit your own workout time in.
Bring the Gym to You
We're not talking about setting up a squat rack in your living room, but you can take advantage of everyday objects in your house to get your workout on. If you don't want to risk damaging your furniture or property, don't worry, most circuit training can be done with minimal equipment or can be made from household objects like gallon jugs of water. We consider this option to be the most creative as there a ton of things around the house you can implement into your workout.
Remember, being a parent does not mean you have to devote every second of your existence to your kids. You need some ME time some times. It's all about time management. This whole adulting thing is hard, but we're all here to help each other get through it.